Staff and guests celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of China International Publishing Group. [By Maverick Chen, China.org.cn]

China International Publishing Group (CIPG) celebrated its 60th anniversary in the Auditorium of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference in Beijing on September 4, 2009. More than 1,000 CIPG staff, government officials, representatives of the media and universities attended the celebration. Among the distinguished guests were minister of the State Council Information Office Wang Chen, vice minister of State Council Information Office Cai Mingzhao, and Liu Binjie, director of General Administration of Press and Publications.

During the celebration, CIPG presented awards to foreign experts who have made great contributions in presenting Chinese culture to the world, as well as long-serving Chinese staff.

Wang Chen and Cai Mingzhao praised the achievements of CIPG in addresses to the gathering, and staff members from several generations shared their experiences of working with CIPG.

Minister of the State Council Information Office Wang Chen makes a speech at the meeting to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of China International Publishing Group. [China.com.cn]

CIPG was founded in 1949 as the Bureau of International News. It published China's first foreign language book, On the People's Democratic Dictatorship, opened China's first book import and export company, and published the country's first foreign language magazine People's China.

Today, the company plays a vital role in telling the world about Chinese culture and society. It accounts for more than 50 percent of China's book and magazine exports and its products are available in 180 countries. CIPG has evolved into a multimedia group comprising websites (China.org.cn and China.com.cn), traditional publications and digital books in 20 languages.

(China.org.cn by Ren Zhongxi, September 4, 2009)